Ludovic Roussillon is one of the top viticulteurs in Bordeaux’s Entre-Deux-Mers. He knows how to coax the very best out of his soils to get the most flavour in his grapes. Work hard in the vineyard and the wine almost makes itself, he says. We’ve worked with Ludovic for a number of years, enjoying both his red and his white from Château Le Coin. This is another wine from his vineyards – mostly Merlot, with a little Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon – all vinified to bring out the fruit's richness, supported by sleek tannins. Rethink Bordeaux with this supple, generous, rounded red. It’s already drinking really well, with or without food. Roast beef, full flavoured pasta dishes, charcuterie, cheese – this wine is very versatile.

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This Merlot blends the craftsmanship of California winemaking with the exotic tradition of dark rum barrel aging, resulting in an incredibly bold sensory expression. Dark ruby red in color, it opens with rich, sweet aromas of blackstrap molasses, sweet vanilla, mocha, cocoa powder, maple, tobacco leaf, spiced rum cake, anise, black cherry, and dark plum. Ripe, concentrated flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, spiced rum cake, molasses, caramel, brown sugar, baking spices, sweet oak, vanilla, and dark chocolate carry through to a long, lush, and sweet finish. A superb accompaniment to Caribbean rum cake, pasta Bolognese, Korean short ribs, Jamaican jerk chicken, spicy coconut curry, dark chocolate, brie with fig jam, and a white sandy beach at sunset.

McGuigan produce another fantastically smooth and rich Merlot from their Black Label range. It is a soft and flavoursome wine with ripe fruit flavours of raspberry, cherry and plums integrated with subtle oak.

A wine that is bursting with fruit vibrancy showing aromas of blood plum, chocolate and subtle oak. The palate delivers fresh, upfront fruit with plush tannins and a long-concentrated finish.

A true "Super Tuscan" Lamaione was first made in 1991 from Merlot grapes planted in the vineyard that carries it's name in the 1970's. With its marine clay-rich soils and south-western exposure, the Lamaione vineyard is located 300 metres above sea level. The grapes were carefully selected, hand-picked and placed in crates. Once at the cellar, the grapes were destemmed and sorted by hand. Fermentation took place at a controlled temperature in steel tanks. The wine was then aged for 24 months in 80% new French oak barriques, followed by further ageing period of 12 months in the bottle. The sunlight and heat during the year give the Lamaione wine extraordinary strength and richness. It has an intense and impenetrable ruby-red colour. The nose reveals wonderful hints of cherry jam and plum. Notes of rhubarb, graphite, dark chocolate, liquorice and roasted coffee are also intriguing. It is plush and well-rounded when tasted, dense while silky-smooth at the same time, the tannins and length are truly remarkable.

At last an affordable Merlot with some real varietal character! Grant Burge Hillcot range has soft ripe red berry and raspberry aromas on the nose. Followed by ripe plum and cherry flavours enhanced by well-integrated oak.